PAKISTAN NEEDS BOOKS NOT GUNS

PAKISTAN NEEDS BOOKS NOT GUNS

Terror attacks continue in Pakistan despite a dialogue process that started last month ago between PM Pakistani’s government and Taliban. While the Taliban is the largest militant outfit, there are at least 50 other groups suspected of carrying out terrorist operations in Pakistan. Should talks with the Taliban break down, leaders will likely be left with no choice other than launching a significant military operation in the insurgency hit tribal areas many of these factions call home. The negotiation process was severely damaged earlier week after a Pakistan Taliban faction admitted that on Sunday it had executed 23 soldiers who had been held in the tribal regions since 2010.

Pm of Pakistan strongly condemned the killings and warned that such incidents were having a negative impact on peace talks. According the announcement of PM of Pakistan these talks were a last chance, and the Pakistan army is indeed poised to launch a full scale operation against militant sanctuaries in North Waziristan if given a green signal by the government of Pakistan. While a military operation against extremists could form part of a counterterrorism strategy, it will not counter the rise of extremism. To do this the government of Pakistan needs a new strategy that emphasizes education and development in the tribal areas.

Sympathy for the extremists is permeating mainstream society. Mehsud, who was responsible for slaughtering thousands of Pakistani citizens, has been hailed as a hero and a martyr by some leading Islamist political parties. It seems all that the drone strikes that killed him achieved was a further radicalization of the religious groups and rightist parties in Pakistan. Drone hit tribal areas that were once merely a sanctuary for the militants have become rich recruiting groups.

The extremists sees glory in suicide bombings and attacks on girls schools and polio vaccination workers. This mindset has been nurtured rather than damaged by the campaign of US drone strikes. This mindset guarantees a heavenly reward for killing innocent people.

The best way to combat extremism is to educate people in the least-developed areas. Enlightened religious scholars should come forward to show people Islam’s true face as a religion of  peace and tolerance. The government of Pakistan could invest in tribal areas to improve socio-economic conditions there and create job opportunities. The region needs a Marshall plan from international donors that emphasizes fast track development of the region not drones that spread violence and hatred.